Do younger or older Australians drink more alcohol?
Among Australians who drink alcohol, younger people tend to drink more than older people. Australians aged 18-24 years are generally more likely to consume five or more standard drinks on a single occasion than older age groups. Those aged 60+ years are more likely than younger age groups to have 2 or less drinks per occasion.
Among Australians aged 14-17 years who drink alcohol, 48% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 21% have 3-4 standard drinks; 12% have 5-6 standard drinks; 13% have 7-10 standard drinks; 2%** have 11-12 standard drinks; and 4%* have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 18-24 years who drink alcohol, 27% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 25% have 3-4 standard drinks; 18% have 5-6 standard drinks; 19% have 7-10 standard drinks; 4% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 7% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 25-29 years who drink alcohol, 39% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 31% have 3-4 standard drinks; 12% have 5-6 standard drinks; 12% have 7-10 standard drinks; 2% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 4% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 30-39 years who drink alcohol, 50% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 26% have 3-4 standard drinks; 11% have 5-6 standard drinks; 9% have 7-10 standard drinks; 1% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 2% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 40-49 years who drink alcohol, 53% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 25% have 3-4 standard drinks; 12% have 5-6 standard drinks; 8% have 7-10 standard drinks; 1% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 1% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 50-59 years who drink alcohol, 54% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 26% have 3-4 standard drinks; 10% have 5-6 standard drinks; 8% have 7-10 standard drinks; 1% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 1% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 60-69 years who drink alcohol, 61% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 25% have 3-4 standard drinks; 7% have 5-6 standard drinks; 5% have 7-10 standard drinks; 0.7% have 11-12 standard drinks; and 0.9% have 13 or more standard drinks.
Among Australians aged 70+ years who drink alcohol, 74% usually have 2 or less standard drinks on a day they drink alcohol; 18% have 3-4 standard drinks; 5% have 5-6 standard drinks; 2% have 7-10 standard drinks; and 0.4%* have 11-12 standard drinks.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2024).
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding. Significance is established as p<0.05.
Standard Drink: A drink that contains 10 grams (or 12.5 millilitres) of alcohol.